Written by SUSK Canada Summer Job Intern – Daniil Zhelezniak (Saint Mary’s University)
Last weekend, Ukrainians were delighted with the latest triumph of their compatriot Oleksandr Usyk. On July 19, 2025, at London’s Wembley Stadium, in front of 90,000 roaring fans, Usyk knocked out British Daniel Dubois in the fifth round with a lightning-fast left hook and united the heavyweight championship belts again. This victory of a Ukrainian in a fight in one of the most grandiose boxing arenas caused a wave of joy in his war-torn homeland, for millions of Ukrainians, Oleksandr’s victory was more than a sporting result. It was a symbolic national achievement, giving a sense of unity, hope, and pride in difficult times.
A brief background
Boxing holds a special place in Ukrainian culture, as it is, alongside football, the most popular sport among Ukrainians, and the country has a rich tradition of producing world-class fighters. Boxing is also one of the most successful sports in Ukraine, as well as at Olympic competitions. Decades of investment in amateur boxing (starting with Soviet-era programs) have allowed for the creation of a developed and strong “boxing school” known for technical prowess, footwork, and endurance (Voronina, 2024). This solid foundation has consistently brought international fame, and throughout the country, many young people train in boxing gyms, for example, in Ukraine it is often said that boxing is a sport of hungry, determined young people who want to pave their way to a better life, and in Ukraine there is “a lot of cream that needs to be taken off” from the point of view the point of view of talents (Podvyshenna, 2024). It is important to note that every major victory of a Ukrainian in boxing is celebrated not only as an individual feat, but also as a national triumph. As one fan in Kyiv explained after the Usyk fight, “every victory of the Ukrainian is significant because it symbolizes the strength of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian aggressor” (Higgins & Jones, 2024).
Oleksandr Usyk – Champion and National Hero
The path of Oleksandr Usyk from a modest family, who grew up in a working–class family in Simferopol, Crimea, at that time still in the Ukrainian SSR (Chapple, 2025). As a child, he first played football and played at the Tavriya Simferopol Youth Academy (which, by the way, we mentioned in the article about football), but at about 15 he switched to boxing, recognizing it as his true passion. Usyk trained at a local gym in Simferopol under the guidance of dedicated trainers, who quickly noticed his unique agility, discipline and fortitude. Later, he entered the Lviv State University of Physical Culture, where he only deepened his training and gained new experience (Romanenko, 2016). By the mid-2000s, Usyk dominated amateur tournaments in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. However, his breakthrough came when he got to and won gold at the 2008 European Championships, which paved the way for his next major achievement, gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where his confident performances and intelligence in the ring made him a star in Ukraine and beyond (Martyniuk, 2014).
After that, Usyk quickly rose through the ranks, dominating the heavyweight division and becoming the first boxer to hold all four major belts simultaneously. In 2018, Oleksandr brought an important away victory from Moscow over Murat Gassiev, which encouraged many Ukrainians and raised interest, and in 2021, he rose to the heavyweight division and stunned the world by defeating Anthony Joshua and winning the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world titles (McGrain, 2018). Having defended them in a rematch, Usyk reached the pinnacle of his career in May 2024, defeating Tyson Fury and becoming the first absolute heavyweight champion of the 21st century (Sajad, 2024). This achievement made him a world legend and a symbol of the pride of Ukrainians.
During the Usyk fights, in the largest cities of Ukraine, public and even festive events take place, and many call it as “a huge boost to the spirit of the nation” (Higgins & Jones, 2024). For many Ukrainians, Usyk’s discipline and courage are a reflection of the nation, his pride in his heritage has long been obvious — he entered the ring wrapped in the Ukrainian flag, performed the traditional hopak dance after fights, and once wore a haircut in the Cossack style. Even at the beginning of his career, such gestures helped him win hearts, glorifying Ukrainian culture abroad (Rafalsky, 2013). Despite the full-scale invasion of Russia, Usyk has not changed his position, he insists that the Crimean Peninsula is Ukraine, and nothing else, and often dedicates his victories to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians (Kabachynskyi, 2024). Such dedication, patriotism and professionalism of a sportsman are highly respected by Western experts, and they describe it as “No boxer has ever represented his country to such an extent” or “Usyk is the living embodiment of his nation’s defiance” (Ronay, 2025).
The Klitschko Era: Pioneers of Ukrainian boxing greatness
Before Usyk, the Klitschko brothers were the most famous, turning Ukraine into a world boxing power and an example for other nations in sports (“How the Klitschko brothers became true superheroes of Ukraine”, n.d.) Born into the family of a famous Soviet general and military attache, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, outstanding brothers, dominated boxing in the heavyweight division from 2004 to 2015. Together, they won over 100 professional fights and held all major heavyweight titles, setting a Guinness World Record for the most wins in a world title fight between siblings (“Most boxing heavyweight world title fights won by brothers”, 2011). So, Vitali (“Dr. Ironfist”) won 45 of 47 fights; Wladimir (“Dr. Steelhammer”) won 64 of 69, but their legacy goes far beyond the ring. They were respected for their intelligence, modesty and patriotism, and today the brothers symbolize the resistance and strength of the Ukrainian people, and Vitali has been mayor of Kyiv since the tragic events of 2014, now playing a key role in the defense of the city (Parsley, 2022).
Usyk himself considers the Klitschko brothers to be role models; at the beginning of his career, many saw him as the natural heir to their legacy — and he brilliantly justified this prediction (Fay, 2024). The Klitschko brothers remain firm supporters of their successor, and Wladimir even attended Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia (Cherkashin, 2024).
More champions and a bright future
Although heavyweights attract the most attention, Ukraine’s boxing talents are represented in different weight categories. Vasyl Lomachenko, a native of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Odesa Oblast, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time, won two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and had an amateur record of 396-1 (Sajad, 2025). He became the world champion in three weight categories in just three fights of his professional career, earning international recognition for his speed and excellent technique.
Other Ukrainian champions include Oleksandr Gvozdyk (former light heavyweight champion) and Artem Dalakian (long-time holder of the light heavyweight title), who proudly represented Ukraine on the world stage (Sukachev, 2018). The list of talents remains high, at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris, Oleksandr Khyzhniak won silver and gold, respectively, and has since turned professional with high hopes (Hodunova, 2024).
Conclusive Idea
In peacetime, champions brought glory. In wartime, they bring unity and hope. When Usyk won his belts at Wembley in the middle of the British capital, it wasn’t just a sporting triumph — it was a national moment and a victorious atmosphere. Boxing, like football in Ukraine, is more than a sport; it is a symbol of pride and the indomitable will of a people who refuse to be defeated.
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